You are here

CARE Canada’s Walk In Her Shoes: Step up for women and girls this International Women’s Day

CARE Canada’s Walk In Her Shoes: Step up for women and girls this International Women’s Day

Mar 07, 2013

Canadians from coast to coast are getting ready to step up for women and girls worldwide.

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th, CARE Canada is hosting its third annual Walk In Her Shoes campaign. It challenges participants to walk 8,000 steps per day (roughly six kilometres) for eight days to simulate the distance women and girls walk daily in the developing world for basic needs such as food, water, firewood or health services.

“The idea is simple,” says Kevin McCort, CARE Canada’s president and CEO. “Walk In Her Shoes encourages participants to try to experience what it’s like for too many women and girls worldwide.”

Many participants will start their eight-day walk this week to celebrate International Women’s Day. Others will begin their walk in April or walk with their mom in May for Mother’s Day.

It is estimated that more than a thousand women, men, girls and boys will take part in CARE Canada’s 2013 Walk In Her Shoes challenge across the country.

Vancouver: Participant Sarah Jamieson will lead a team turning the 8,000-step challenge into a 102 kilometre relay in honour of the 102nd anniversary of International Women’s Day. Also, the women of CARE Canada’s I Am Powerful Vancouver will take part in a one-day walk on March 8th.

Calgary: Alberta Premier Alison Redford will participate in a special event to celebrate International Women’s Day hosted by CARE Canada’s I Am Powerful Calgary.

Ottawa: Nine-year-old Chloe Baker has made her own video and encouraged her classmates to support her Walk In Her Shoes efforts. To mark International Women’s Day, Chloe plans to sell bracelets she made to her friends with the proceeds going to Walk In Her Shoes.

Montreal: Clinique Podiatrique de Montréal employees will be walking at Montreal’s Botanical Gardens Saturday. Later this spring, a group of women with Pfizer Canada will walk together. Pfizer Canada team leader Crystal Dandy will spend her March 8th at a conference in Washington D.C. discussing her volunteer work with CARE in India and the importance of Walk In Her Shoes.

Coldbrook, Nova Scotia: Teacher Caroline Adams will celebrate International Women’s Day with her elementary students during the day and kick off her eight-day challenge (and her March Break!) by walking two kilometres home from her school.

“Walk In Her Shoes really extends across Canada,” says McCort. “I find it’s so inspiring to see thousands of Canadians willing to show their support for CARE’s international development efforts with this campaign.”

CARE is an international humanitarian and development organization operating in more than 80 countries. Funds raised will support CARE Canada’s work to fight poverty in developing countries. Donations go towards projects that provide safe education, health care, sustainable food, clean water, life-saving emergency assistance and economic development opportunities.

To learn more about how to sign up for Walk in Her Shoes or to donate to the campaign, visit www.care.ca/walk.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview with a local participant, please contact:Suzanne CharestDirector, Communications and Marketing, CARE CanadaTel: 613-228-5641Cel: 613-790-2134media@care.ca

About CAREFounded in 1945, CARE is a leading international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. In over 80 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, help vulnerable people adapt to climate change and provide lifesaving assistance during emergencies. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls living in poverty because, equipped with the proper resources, women and girls have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. To learn more, visit: www.care.ca.